Estabrook Elementary School

 

New Family Information and Frequently Asked Questions

 

Welcome to Estabrook! We know that you may have many questions about our school. We hope you come to a PTA meeting to learn more about our school and the many opportunities for parent involvement. Following are a few of the basic facts you may find helpful in getting started at Estabrook. If you have any other questions, feel free to call at 781-861-2520 or email us at mbatten or mzottoli @sch.ci.lexington.ma.us.                                                                                                 ≠ Martha Batten, Principal & Michelle Zottolli, Assistant Principal

 

 

Q. What is the policy if my child is absent or late?

 

Whenever your child is absent from school, please call the office before 8:30 on the day of the absence or anytime before the day of the absence and leave a message with your child's full name, the reason for the absence, anticipated date(s) of absence, and the teacher's name. The voicemail is on whenever there is not someone in the office. Our number is 781-861-2520. We will check teachers' absence lists against parent calls. If your child has been marked absent but you did not call him/her in, we will make every effort to contact you or your emergency contacts. It is NOT necessary to send in a note once your child has returned to school. Children who will arrive to the classroom after 8:45 must stop in the office, accompanied by an adult, to sign in. A child not in the classroom at 8:45 a.m., according to the school office clock, is considered tardy.

Q. How do I sign my child up for the bus?

 

For bus information, including sign up and routes, please refer to the following link to the transportation website: http://lps.lexingtonma.org/bus/index.html

 

Q. What if we have a change in our dismissal plan?

 

For your childπs safety and well-being, we ask every family to fill out a form listing your routine plans for dismissal for each day of the week. When there is a question, we follow this plan. If you need to make a change in your childπs dismissal plans, we ask that you provide us with a note with all pertinent information, including your childπs name and teacher, what the change is, who the adult taking the child will be, that personπs phone number, your phone number in case there are questions, and the date of the change. The Change in Dismissal Form is on our website and copies are available in the office. These notes/forms are seen by the teacher and then sent to the office for our reference. (Often the office may be dealing with dismissal issues when teachers have left the building to go to meetings.)

 

In case of an emergency or unexpected change (e.g. you are stuck in traffic and are arranging for someone else to pick up your child), please call the office and speak to someone directly. For the childrenπs safety, we can only take changes in dismissal plans from parents or guardians. In addition, we may need to call you back at the phone number you have provided us to confirm parent or guardian identity. We realize that sometimes all lines are busy, but we ask that you not leave a message about dismissal after 1:30 or so, except in the case of an emergency; we may not be able to get to all messages before 3:15. Please note: There are only four telephone lines into the building. Arrangements for play dates must be made at home and a note sent in by the parent.

 

 

 

Q. What is the procedure for checking in the building or delivering materials to my childπs classroom?

 

For the childrenπs safety, Estabrook follows the district sign-in policy. Except for the 8:30-8:40 walk-in period each morning, all visitors and parents enter via the front door and must check in at the office, speak to an office staff member about the nature of the visit, sign the register, and obtain a badge. We will call the classroom to ensure that the staff member is expecting you. All staff members have badges, and staff are instructed to query anyone in the building without a badge. If you have something to drop off for your child, please leave it with the office staff (labeled with your childπs name and teacher), who will see that it gets to your child.

Q. How do I find out about the curriculum?

 

Each grade level holds a back to school curriculum night early in the fall for parents. In addition, the district publishes grade level expectations for each grade, which are also available on the district website. You may contact the teacher if you have a specific question, and teachers may send out information about classroom studies and activities as well.

 

Q. How do I find out about Extended Day Care?

 

The Lextended Day program shares our space; however, they are a privately run organization and not part of the school system. If you are interested in the program, please call them directly at 781-862-8318. A bus does go from Estabrook to the Hayden Center, which also runs an extended day program. If you have any questions about bus transportation to the Hayden extended day program please refer to the transportation website http://lps.lexingtonma.org/bus/index.html, or at 781-861-2540.

 

 

 

Q. How do I purchase an Estabrook School Directory?

 

 

In order to receive a directory, parents become members of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA). Memberships are $20. Requests to become a member of the PTA may be made in writing and accompanied by a check. Please note that school committee policy and state law does not allow staff to release the phone numbers or addresses of students without a written release.

 

How do I drop off/pick up if I transport by car? Due to impending driveway reconstruction, look for updated arrival and dismissal information posted on the website and sent by listserve.

 

®    Drop Off: Supervision is available for students who are dropped off beginning at 8:15 a.m. Students may not be dropped off prior to that time, as there is not supervision.

 

®    Drivers may unload or pick up children in the drop off/pick up lane in front of the school.

 

®    Children should ONLY disembark from the right side of the vehicle. Please do not move your car until your child is fully away from the car. School staff cannot open or close car doors.

 

®    In consideration of other families and to keep traffic moving, please park if you need to talk or have extended goodbyes with your child, locate an item or get out of the car yourself.

 

Walking Your Child to Class: If you wish to walk your child in to school between 8:30 and 8:40, please park and proceed in the side or front doors. Please note that school begins promptly at 8:45, and that students should arrive no later than 8:40 to ensure a successful transition to school. Parents need not sign in at the office before 8:40, but may walk children directly to the classroom until school begins.

 

     Dismissal locations:

With parent permission, walkers may leave from any door and walk home without adult supervision. The front porch is supervised by staff members from 8:15-8:30 and 3:15-3:25.

• Drive-up Pickup location: When traffic is moving freely (after 3:15 only), parents may pick up their children directly from the front porch by pulling up to the curb as far forward as possible. When children see their car, they walk to the car door. It is helpful if parents place a large lettered sign in the passenger window with the childπs name and teacher. Please do not line up BEFORE 3:15 as cars and buses then get stuck on Grove Street and everyoneπs dismissal is slowed down as a result.

Safety Issues: Adults meeting the children are requested to wait on the front porch, and escort their child(ren) to the car

General Traffic & Parking Guidelines: To ensure the safety of everyone and to permit the flow of two-way traffic in designated areas, please observe all of the traffic flow and parking signs along the school roadway.

• Please do not park or stop for any reason in this circle in front of the school between the hours of 7:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
• Families should park in the front or side lots in marked parking locations.
• It is the staffπs responsibility to ensure that traffic moves efficiently and that students are safe. Please follow their instructions.
• There is limited parking on the school site. Please leave the back parking lot for staff.

 

Q. How can I give feedback to the school?

 

We are interested in your ideas! The Site Council surveys parents each year and uses that feedback to help set goals for the coming year. Ms. Batten is available to meet with any parent to discuss issues or questions.

Q. What are the school hoursãSchool begins promptly at 8:45 and ends at 3:15, except Thursday, when school is over at 12:15. We ask that students be present in their classrooms by at least 8:40, so that they have time to transition into the day.

 

Q. What about lunch, snack & recess? How do I buy lunch tickets?

Students may bring a lunch from home or purchase a lunch or drink from Chartwells, the district cafeteria service. Refer to the LPS website for price information. A menu comes home monthly and is also posted on our website. Lexington School lunch prepaid tickets make the lunch line move faster. Tickets may be purchased at the Chartwells LHS Office (behind kitchen at Commons One), Monday ≠ Friday 7:00 am to 10:00 am or 1:25 pm until 2:00 pm. If you wish to purchase by mail, please enclose a stamped, self addressed envelope to expedite your receipt of tickets, make all checks payable to ≥Lexington Public School≤ and mail them to:

Chartwells Lexington School Lunch, c/o Lexington High School, 251 Waltham Street, Lexington, MA 02421

 

We strongly recommend you write your childπs name on the back of each ticket. Chartwells does not replace or refund lost tickets. Students who have forgotten money, or who arrive after 9:15 and will be ordering lunch will not be able to order a choice lunch and will be served a cheese sandwich.

 

 

In the cafeteria, students are to eat only food provided by their family or purchased in the cafeteria per district policy. Students may not to give one another money, trade, or buy one another food. Families of students with allergies must inform the school nurse of the condition and provide protocol information in order to ensure student safety.

 

Children have a 15 minute recess each morning and most bring a snack. Some classrooms may be designated as peanut or nut-safe due to life-threatening allergies. Because these allergens do not have to be ingested to cause problems, children in peanut or nut-safe classrooms may not bring these items to school.

 

Q. How do you deal with medications & health issues?

 

We are fortunate to have a full time nurse on our staff. Please note that all medications (even over-the-counter such a throat lozenges and Tylenol) must be dispensed by the nurse and require a doctorπs note per state law. Please plan to bring any medications in personally. Per state requirements, all kindergarteners must have physical and updated immunizations prior to entering school.

 

Q. When are the METCO Family Friends Visiting dates?

Please refer to the calendar sent home with the Estabrook Update or Estabrook News weekly or the web page calendar.

Q. May I bring food or treats for my childπs class?

 

No, per Lexington Public School Allergy and health policy.

 

Q. What if my child arrives late or needs to be dismissed early?

 

If your child arrives later than 8:45 a.m., she/he needs to sign in at the front office before going to the classroom. If she/he is being dismissed early, please come to the front office. One of our staff members will call your childπs classroom and your child will come to meet you at the office. Please sign your child out before leaving the building. Please do not go directly to the classroom.

 

 

Q. Is there a school newsletter, website, or listserve?

 

Yes, both. The PTA publishes a monthly newsletter called the Estabrook News and on other weeks we generally publish The Estabrook Update. They feature PTA news, school information, dates, and updates about coming events and are sent home weekly with the youngest child in each family. The most recent edition of the newsletter, along with other helpful information, is posted on our website at http://estabrook.ci.lexington.ma.us.

The directions for signing up for the listserve are on the website also. We encourage all parents and guardians to sign up. Last minute, time sensitive, or emergency information (such as early closing for a severe storm) are sent out on the list serve. Working parents may want to sign up to receive list serve messages at work, also.

 

Q. What if my child needs a special service?

As part of our regular education program, we have a Counselor, English Language Learner Teacher, and Reading and Math Specialists. If you have concerns in these areas, talk with your childπs teacher. Teachers may also consult with curriculum coordinators in the other curricular areas. Students with disabilities may be eligible for one or more of the following special education services: speech and language, occupational therapy, adaptive physical education, or specialized instruction from one of the resource teachers. If you have concerns about your childπs success at school, the first step is to speak with your childπs teacher. The teacher may consult with our Teacher Support/Child Study multidisciplinary team which may recommend specific strategies for your child and/or additional assessments.

 

Q. How do I contact the teacher or principal?

Estabrook School is committed to creating a culture of collaboration among school staff and families. The key to collaboration is open communication. Please do not hesitate to contact the school if you have a question, suggestion, or concern. To contact your childπs teacher, you can either send a note in with your child asking the teacher to call you, send an email, or leave a message with the office. Teachers have email and voicemail; however, please keep in mind that their priority is with the children, and they do not check these messages during the school day. For issues directly related to the classroom, please speak first to the teacher before contacting Ms. Batten. For school-wide issues or unresolved classroom concerns, please contact Ms. Batten. (She usually returns messages after school or in the evening).We welcome your comments and suggestions. You may call at 781-861-2520.

 

Q. What opportunities are there for volunteering and involvement?

 

Estabrook has a strong tradition of parent involvement, and we are always looking for new volunteers with fresh ideas! The PTA is a vibrant organization with many committees. Be sure to join (only $20) and attend meetings, held every other month on Tuesday nights, to find out how you can be involved. Parents are elected to serve on the School Site Council, which sets goals for the school, and volunteer on subcommittees, including the AntiBias Committee, the Safe Environment Committee, and Homework Committee. Our newsletters regularly announce volunteer opportunities as well. State Law requires all volunteers to complete a CORI form every 3 years in the presence of a CORI authorized employee (Principal and Secretary).

 

 

Q. What about walking, riding bikes, or skating to school?

 

If students do not ride the bus, they may walk (there is a crossing guard on Grove Street) and students in grades 3-5 may ride bikes if they wear helmets and submit a parent permission form, and parents show the students a safe route. Any child may ride a bike if accompanied by an adult. There is a bike rack in front and back of the school. Note: students MUST walk their bikes on school sidewalks. Students may not skate, skateboard or roller blade to school nor are these items allowed at school.

 

Q. May I take my child out of school for a family trip when school is in session?

 

Unexcused absences are discouraged by the Lexington Public Schools and parents are asked to put information about an unexcused absence in advance in a letter to the school principal. Students cannot really make up what is missed during an elementary school day and teachers cannot be expected to provide homework in advance. Homework is usually based on what has actually been taught during the day, rather than planned well in advance, as it might be in secondary school.

 

 

 

 

If you have any other questions, please feel free to contact Margaret Klebe PTA President, our administrative assistant, Theresa Carfagno, or principal Martha Batten at 781-861-2520 or check out our website at http://estabrook.ci.lexington.ma.us.

And, if you are interested in helping redesign and/or maintain the school website, please call!!!!